Valuable life and teaching experience: Teaching internship in Uganda

Since 2012, teaching degree students at the KU have the opportunity to expand their intercultural and teaching skills during internships at schools in Uganda. Anna Heindl and Anna Mosandl have now summarized their experiences for everyone who is interested. They had completed a short internship abroad in the context of the KUganda and BLLV projects. Even if international internships are currently not possible due to the corona crisis, the two students still highly recommend keeping the offer in mind and making us of it as soon as it will be possible again.

Anna Heindl is a teaching degree student at the KU in her fourth semester who was also personally affected by the most recent developments. As a result of the corona pandemic, she had to cancel her stay in Kampala and Busabala, which was initially intended for nine weeks and three schools, after approx. four weeks already. Anna Mosandl had more luck as she was already able to gather international teaching experience last year, when she spent eight weeks in the African country to enhance her practical experience as a teacher for mathematics and school psychology.

Both young women agree when they say that they have learned much more than just teaching experience – they have learned for life: “Since our internships, we have become more flexible and also more confident.” They told their listeners about daily life and work in Uganda and the challenges that come with a different school system and cultural differences. They also showed many pictures to give an insight into the rich diversity and beauty of the African country. Their closing statement aimed at everyone who is also interested in an internship: “Definitely do it and take the chance to complete an internship in Uganda!”

The event was moderated by Marianne Schönmüller, the IO’s international job market advisor, and Dr. Petra Hiebl, Akademische Direktorin at the Chair of Elementary Education and deputy chairperson of the management board at the Center for Teacher Education. They also provided additional information on international internships and teaching methodological support that is provided during the internships.

Difficult educational circumstances in Uganda were one of the main reasons that led KU President Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gien to set up the educational project “KUganda – The Challenge of Education in Uganda“ in 2011. KUganda is an educational project of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt that has the aim of bringing students into contact with different educational contexts already during their course of study. This will raise the students’ awareness for global challenges in the context of educational justice and initiate joint, cross-cultural learning. The aim is to enable future decision-makers and stakeholders to gather valuable practical experience both in Uganda and Germany across cultural borders. Students are encouraged to face and solve challenging situations in Uganda’s classrooms. They learn to develop creative hands-on solutions and simultaneously shape their personalities and experience personal growth. Also the KU’s partners in Uganda benefit from the change in perspectives achieved in intercultural dialog: New educational approaches are explored when it comes to structuring lessons, and new teaching and learning concepts are tested and implemented. However, the most important objective is personal development: Acting responsibly by furthering global learning strategies. Interested students can apply for financial support for travel and accommodation costs with the help of the KU International Office. The DAAD offers a corresponding scholarship program that is called “Lehramt.international”. Currently, the scholarship’s funding rate for Uganda is € 1,200 per month.

More information is available at
https://www.ku.de/internationales/praktikum/praktika-fuer-lehrerdaf/